JamesCreswell
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Homework Statement
I am not sure that my work is correct, and some guidance would be much appreciated.
An electric toy car has mass m and has a power source of constant power P.
The power source converts electrical energy directly into kinetic energy. If the car is initially stationary and on a level surface, calculate the velocity and acceleration as functions of time. Find the limiting value of the velocity and of the acceleration at very large times.
Homework Equations
P =\frac W t
W=\Delta K
The Attempt at a Solution
P = \frac W t
W=P t
\Delta K = P t
Because the initial velocity is zero,
\frac 1 2 m v^2 \equiv P t
v(t) = \sqrt{\frac{2Pt}{m}}
And acceleration is the derivative:
a(t) = \frac{d}{dt} \left(\sqrt{\frac{2Pt}{m}}\right) = \frac{d}{dt} \left(\sqrt{\frac{2P}{m}} \sqrt{t}\right) = \frac{\sqrt{\frac{2P}{m}}}{2 \sqrt{t}}There are probably some mistakes thus far. I am asked to provide the limiting value of acceleration and velocity at very large times; based on my work, velocity will continually increase and acceleration will approach zero as t increases. Are there no "limiting values", then, other than 0 and infinity?
Any help is much appreciated.